Author: Kanayan Tamar

Implausibly high voter turnout in some polling stations raises
concerns – OSCE/ODIHR report

19:43 – 02.03.13

OSCE/ODIHR has issued a post-election interim report on March 2 for
the February 19-26 period.

The OSCE/ODIHR will also issue a comprehensive final report, including
recommendations, approximately two months after the completion of the
electoral process.

On 25 February, the CEC announced the final election results with Mr.
Sargsyan as the elected president. The results protocol was signed by
all seven CEC members.

The report says an OSCE/ODIHR EOM analysis of final results as
published by the CEC shows a close correlation between the voter
turnout and the number of votes for the incumbent, with PECs with
above-average turnout also having a higher share of votes for Mr.
Sargsyan. Out of the 1,988 polling stations, 1,746 have 300 or more
registered voters. In 144 of those, voter turnout exceeded 80 per
cent, which seems implausibly high; the incumbent received above 80
per cent of the votes cast in 115 of these stations. In 198 out of the
303 stations where turnout was between 70 and 80 per cent, the
incumbent received more than 70 per cent of the votes. Among 249
stations where turnout was below 50 per cent, Mr. Sargsyan received
more than 50 per cent in 40, and Mr. Hovannisyan received more than 50
per cent in 155. The tendency of higher results for the incumbent
observed at the majority of stations with high turnout raises concerns
regarding the confidence over the integrity of the electoral process.

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM was informed by the CEC of 8 formal complaints
registered by election commissions on election day, and of over 80
registered after the election, mostly requesting recounts or
invalidation of a total of 140 PEC results. Requests for invalidation
of the results in 73 polling stations were considered inadmissible
because they had been filed after the legal deadline; for 47 of the
stations, they were rejected as unsubstantiated. Complaints on
election day cited grave irregularities such as ballot box stuffing,
multiple voting, voting by unauthorized persons, interference and
pressure by executive officials. All complaints filed by observers
were considered inadmissible as they have no right to file complaints
which do not concern direct hindrance of their rights as observers.
Complaints filed by candidate proxies were also considered
inadmissible on the grounds that they were not present in the polling
stations. The information on complaints provided by the CEC to the EOM
was at times conflicting and incomplete.

Some 40 cases of irregularities were registered by observers and
candidate proxies in PEC journals.

Raffi Hovannisian: “Those responsible must be called to account.”

2013-03-01 17:46:15

Those responsible must be called to account, but today it is a day of
silence. We have to give tribute to the victims of the events of March
1. Similar opinion was expressed by the leader of “Heritage” party
Raffi Hovannisian at a press conference, convened at the Liberty
Square.

Referring to the results of the elections held on February 18, Raffi
Hovannisian again said that they were shameful elections, and the
results were falsified.

He also noted that the people should be prepared for a long and heavy fighting.

To note that from the Liberty Square citizens will move to the
monument of Myasnikyan to pay tribute to the victims of March 1.

Paruyr Hayrikyan: Give me strength and wisdom, Lord!

11:41 AM | MARCH 02, 2013 | POLITICS

Paruyr Hayrikyan about his health.

One more unpleasant day … After checking for about three hours the
specialists stated that my health condition deteriorates causing
health complications..

I will recover in any case. And if I am not back again once your
children will harass you and you will not be able find the answer, why
so united you betrayed the only one who brought you victory.

Look at your behavior today and you will understand what actions were
taking your fathers and grandfathers that Armenians, which were 2-3
percent of the world nowadays are not even 0.2 percent and that only
10 percent of our historic homeland is left for us… And think if
mankind needs such weak-willed, wicked and dreg beings like you.

Now I am no able event to pray to Lord, to sing my favorite prayer of
Yekmalean. Now even prayers seem alien and useless.

Lord, you said to love your neighbor, but you have also told not to
throw your pearls before swine.I am lost. How can I find a way? Can I
consider them neighbors?

Give me strength and wisdom, Lord…

Windsor Star (Ontario) Canada
March 1, 2013 Friday
Final Edition

Man psychotic when he hit cop; Toronto officer rammed with snow plow, died

by Allison Jones, The Canadian Press
TORONTO

A man on trial for killing a Toronto police officer was psychotic at
the time he rammed into the sergeant with a stolen snow plow and may
be schizophrenic, court heard Thursday.

Richard Kachkar, 44, appears to have been suffering for several years
from a “low-grade” mental illness with periodic spikes, such as in
2006 when he woke up in the middle of the night screaming that he was
possessed by the devil and slapped his wife, a psychiatrist testified.

There was also a “very serious” exacerbation in the months before
Kachkar killed Sgt. Ryan Russell in January 2011, forensic
psychiatrist Dr. Philip Klassen testified.

“I formed the opinion that, from a purely psychiatric perspective, I
felt that, on the balance of probabilities, he was not able to
appreciate the nature and quality of his actions or their rightness or
wrongness,” Klassen said.

Kachkar’s symptoms do not fit neatly into any one category, Klassen
said, noting if he had to offer a diagnosis it would be either an
unspecified psychotic disorder or possibly schizophrenia. Klassen
added that he thought Kachkar was exaggerating his reported amnesia
surrounding the death of Russell.

Kachkar has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, and his lawyers
are urging the jury to find him not criminally responsible – a finding
that means he had a mental disorder and couldn’t appreciate what he
was doing.

The judge has told the jury that there is “no doubt” Kachkar was
driving the stolen plow on Jan. 12, 2011, when it hit and killed the
35-year-old officer, but what is at issue is Kachkar’s mental state.

Friends have said that, in the days before Russell’s death, Kachkar
was behaving strangely, sleeping with his arms crossed like a mummy
and talking about “white Jesus” and cameras being everywhere.

As he drove the stolen snow plow wildly around the streets of Toronto
that morning for two hours he was yelling about the Taliban, Chinese
technology, Russian Facebook and paramedics putting microchips in his
body, his trial has heard.

Russell was killed after he got out of his cruiser to try to stop the
snow plow, which was driving into oncoming traffic and crashing into
other vehicles.

Klassen spent more than 10 hours interviewing Kachkar, spoke to his
estranged wife and daughter, and looked over voluminous other
materials in preparing his report.

He described Kachkar as a man whose “grandiose” business schemes
involved at various times the Kardashian sisters, a bakery for dogs
and a Russian submarine.

Among Kachkar’s possessions were pages of handwritten notes of plans
for architecture, banking, commerce and information technology
business ventures with the tabloid-fodder Kardashian family.

Klassen said when he asked Kachkar about the notes he “normalized” the
plans, talking about their shared Armenian heritage.

“He stated that, well, the Kardashian family is Armenian but they need
help, and he suggested that his talents could cover the various areas
that you’ve seen and that he in turn could help them,” Klassen
testified.

Based on his research, Klassen was also able to paint a picture of
Kachkar’s early life – growing up in Edmonton with three sisters and
hard-working immigrant parents – as unremarkable and middle-class.

In his 20s Kachkar went to study architecture in Armenia, where he met
his wife, though it seems their main reason for getting married was
that she conceived, Klassen said.

They moved back to Canada, where he studied computerized design in
British Columbia, then drifted around from job to job below his
education level, Klassen said.

When his father died in 2004 Kachkar inherited $100,000 and tried to
use the money flipping real estate in the United States, but he
ultimately lost the properties to unpaid taxes after he didn’t get a
work visa and couldn’t renovate them, Klassen said.

Kachkar took his son’s education money to buy a building in St.
Catharines, Ont., where he was living until his arrest.

He was described by family as intrusive, controlling, argumentative
and demanding, and police were called on a few occasions for incidents
of pushing and shoving, Klassen said.

Kachkar and his wife separated around 2006, when she reported to
social workers that she was worried about him because she thought he
was mentally ill, Klassen said.

NOUVEAU SCANDALE AU MINISTERE TURC CHARGE DES AFFAIRES EUROPEENNES

La traduction en turc du rapport de l’UE 2012 relatif aux ” progrès de
la Turquie sur la voie de l’adhesion ” realise par le ministère turc
charge des affaires europeennes contient de scandaleuses modifications
selon le journal turc Birgun. Il en est ainsi entre autre du mot
genocide qui se voit affuble du fameux ” soi-disant “.

La reponse du ministère a la question posee par BirGun sur cette
traduction a ete : ” ceci est une traduction par le ministère a titre
non officiel “.

Quelques exemples de modifications :

” La Republique de Chypre ” est remplacee par ” Chypre ”

” La journee de commemoration du genocide armenien ” est remplacee
” journee de commemoration du soit-disant genocide armenien ”

” Le patriarche ~cumenique Bartholomee I ” est remplace par ”
patriarche Bartholomee I ”

Le depute kurde Hasip Kaplan du parti BDP a reagit a la reponse du
ministère. Hasip Kaplan affirme que la reponse du ministère est
arrogante ” Que voulez-vous dire par informelle ? Le ministère a
signe un texte qui peut etre informelle ? Les interprètes doivent
avoir une comprehension approfondie des règles ethiques. Ce n’est
pas un non-sens ” a-t-il dit.

vendredi 1er mars 2013, Stephane ©armenews.com

JAPANESE FIGURE SKATING TEAM TO TRAIN IN ARMENIA FOR 2014 WINTER OLYMPICS

15:16 AMT, February 28

YEREVAN. – The National Olympic Committee of Armenia (ARMNOC) hosted,
in capital city Yerevan, Japan Figure Skating Federation President
Hidehito Ito and Federation Manager Tatsuro Matsumura.

First, the Japanese guests visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial
and laid a wreath in memory of the Genocide victims. Next, they
toured the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concerts Complex, inspected
its skating rink and, as a result, they were greatly impressed,
ARMNOC media department informs.

Before long, Japan will send a huge skating delegation to Armenia.

Aside from skaters, Armenia also will host scientific-medical sports
teams and news reporters from Japan.

In their view, the climatic conditions of Armenia are very suitable
to prepare for the 2014 Winter Olympics to be held in Sochi, Russia

ARMENIA’S FOREIGN TRADE GROWS 21.7% TO $422.5 MILLION IN JANUARY 2013

YEREVAN, February 28. /ARKA/. Armenia’s foreign trade turnover amounted
to more than $422.5 million in January 2013 after growing 21.7%,
compared with the same month a year before.

According to the report available on the website of the National
Statistical Service of Armenia,

The country’s exports totaled $112.4 million in January 2013 – 54.6%
year-on-year growth, and imports $310.2 million – 13% year-on-year
growth.

As a result, adverse balance of the foreign trade stood at $197.8
million.

According to preliminary statistical reports, adverse balance of
Armenia’s foreign trade turnover in FOB prices (a shipping term which
indicates that the supplier pays the shipping costs, and usually also
the insurance costs, from the point of manufacture to a specified
destination, at which point the buyer takes responsibility) amounted
to $150 million.

Basic metals and articles made of them dominated Armenia’s exports in
January 2013. Their total cost was $29.6 million – 24.6% year-on-year
growth.

Mining industry, with its $28.8 million and 21.9% year-on-year growth,
dominated the country’s exports as well.

Exports on “ground, air and water transportation facilities”
totaled $15.6 million in January 2013 (67.2% year-on-year growth),
final products of the food industry $15.4 million (75.2% growth),
precious and semiprecious stones, precious metals and articles made
of them about $11.1 million (10.9% growth).

Mining industry’s products dominated also imports. Their total cost was
$94.8 million in Jan 2013 (23% year-on-year growth), machinery about
$34.5 million (19.8% growth), final products of the food industry
$30.8 million (2.4 times), and articles of “ground, air and water
transportation facilities” group $20.9 million (25.3% decline).

($1 – AMD 409.02). -0- 18:23 28.02.2013

THE TRUTH MUST BE TOLD: OPEN LETTER TO CHRISTIAN ARMENIAN LEADERS

Dear Shepherds:

Armenians are proudly known throughout the world as the first country
to embrace Christianity. Since then, Armenians have made a handful of
good decisions but none that have pierced the soul of humanity. We now
stand at a fork in the road where we are given the opportunity to act
as salt and light; to set the tone for future generations of our great
people that we are ~Vonce again~V a nation that seeks righteousness.

Please stand with us ~V as we stand with you ~V to shine light into
the darkness of the corruption plaguing our homeland. The only time
Jesus got violent was when he was cleansing the temple from the money
changers ~V we need your spiritual leadership to rid our government
of a similar evil.

Encourage your faithful congregation to join our rally and
demonstration, and show that we can call evil evil, and good good. As
found in scripture (Luke 19:40) ~SAnd Jesus answered and said unto
them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones
would immediately cry out.~T We need your support, because Christianity
is not something we are born in, but something that we do. As the
disciple James (James 2:20) says ~Sfaith without works is dead.~T
Let us choose salt and light, not darkness.

~SIf My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and
pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will
hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.~T –
2 Chronicles 7: 14

Please lead us in the coming weeks while we march and protest the theft
of an honest vote in Armenia~Rs most recent Presidential election. Let
me know if you have any concerns so that we can work together for
righteousness sake.

In Him,

Ara Manoogian

Ara K. Manoogian | February 28, 2013

FRENCH FM CONDEMNS BEATING OF TWO AZERBAIJANIS IN PARIS

Trend, Azerbaijan
Feb 28 2013

The French Foreign Ministry condemned the act of violence that took
place on Tuesday in the National Assembly of the country, resulting
in the beating of two Azerbaijanis.

“France believes that resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict
is only possible through the dialogue. France, as a Co-Chair of the
Minsk Group reaffirms its commitment to the promotion of dialogue
between Azerbaijan and Armenia”, the statement of the French Foreign
Ministry released by the French Embassy in Azerbaijan on Thursday said.

The two Azerbaijanis – the head of the House of Azerbaijan Mirvari
Fataliyeva and Vusal Huseynov were beaten by representatives of the
Armenian community at the French National Assembly during an event
titled ’25 years after Sumgait: the present situation and future
prospects for the people of Nagorno-Karabakh’, organized by the
Armenian community in France.

The Azerbaijani Embassy sent a note of protest to the French Foreign
Ministry and a letter to the president of the country’s National
Assembly in connection with the incident.

The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry recently issued a statement condemning
violence against Azerbaijani citizens in France .The letter expressed
hope that relevant the authorities will take action on the issue and
that the country’s law enforcement agencies will promptly investigate
the crime and bring the culprits to justice.

The parliamentary group of friendship of the National Assembly of
France with Azerbaijan condemned the incident involving the beating
of two Azerbaijanis in Paris.

MERKEL – ERDOGAN MET WITH THE LEADERS OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES IN TURKEY

Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT)
Feb 27 2013

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his official guest German
Chancellor Angela Merkel have met the leaders of religious communities
in Turkey.

The Mufti of Ankara M.Hakkı Ozer, the Fener Greek Patriarch
Bartholomew, Armenian acting Patriarch Aram AteÅ~_yan ,Chief Rabbi
Yitzak Haleva , the Metropolit of the Assyrian Mor Gabriel monastery
Samuel AktaÅ~_, the acting Patriarch of the Assyrian Catholic Church
of Turkey and a member of the Executive Board of the Protestant
Churches Association of Turkey Umut Å~^ahin attended the meeting at
the official residence of the Prime Minister.

The meeting lasted about one hour and twenty minutes.